Paul Quinn, Wiley duo, Fisk capture Week 14 HBCUAC Women's Basketball Awards

Paul Quinn College guard Tamia Dolls wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player of the Week. Wiley University forward Jessica Nerestant secures Defensive Player of the Week. Guard Keimora Banks garners Newcomer of the Week. Fisk University guard Ari Branch takes home Freshman of the Week. The women were recognized for their performance between January 26 and February 1, the conference announced on Monday.

Dolls posted 25 points in the Lady Tigers 84-60 rout of Tougaloo College on Saturday. She shot 9-for-15 from the field and 7-for-10 from 3-point range. Dolls contributed an offensive rebound. Her performance helped Paul Quinn maintain its lead in the HBCUAC West Division.

Nerestant provided a strong presence on the defensive end, helping the Lady Wildcats to two conference victories. She grabbed 20 rebounds with 17 on defense and stole the ball three times. In Thursday's victory at Southern University at New Orleans, she led the team with nine rebounds, with six on defense and two steals. Nerestant recorded her fourth double-double against Dillard with 14 rebounds, 11 on defense and a steal. She moved into 10th with 8.6 rebounds per game.

Banks had her best week in HBCUAC play, averaging 13.5 points, four rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. In Thursday's game against SUNO, she shared the team lead with 13 points, scoring seventh in the fourth quarter to help the Lady Wildcats pull away. Banks added five rebounds and two assists. Against Dillard on Saturday, she provided 14 points, three rebounds and three assists to lead the Lady Wildcats to an 88-81 overtime victory, which snapped the Lady Bleu Devils' winning streak at five games. Banks ranks sixth in the conference with 3.4 assists per game.

Branch led Fisk in scoring with 17 points as it upset Stillman College 43-39 on Thursday. She hit crucial shots in the closing minutes to put the Lady Bulldogs on top. Branch shot 7-for-10 from the charity stripe, moving into fourth in the conference with 70 free throws. This is Branch's ninth weekly honor.

Additional women's basketball weekly nominees: Bre'Nai Amos (Tougaloo), Davielis Berroa (Dillard), Makaila Brown (Tougaloo), Shykiera Brown (Voorhees), Zaire Brown (Paul Quinn), Wilashia Burleson (Huston-Tillotson), Nedisha Ford (Voorhees), Markiyah Jefferson (SUNO), Brandy Jones (Wiley), Sommer Joseph (Voorhees), Saniya Keys (Oakwood), Azaria Knox (Dillard), Kayla Lee (Fisk), Shalayne Morgan (Tougaloo), Tyreshia Sessions (Paul Quinn), Destiny Stanford (Huston-Tillotson), Tierra Sylvas (SUNO), Kayla Terry (Dillard), Maia Turner (Tougaloo)

2025-26 HBCUAC Women's Basketball Players of the Week

About the HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.